Nth leadless electrode telemetry device, system and method of use

ABSTRACT

A discrete electrode telemetry device includes a single female snap receptor in a leadless body. The single female snap receptor attaches to a single male snap post of a single discrete standard circular disposable electrode patch, wherein the sensor comprises a plurality of plug-in interface ports for multiple use reference electrodes on the leadless body thereof. A multiplexor circuit is engineered to multiplex and combine a plurality of signal data collected from the interface ports as an output thereof. A wireless transmitter module is disposed in connection with the single female snap receptor, the wireless transmitter configured to transmit the piecewise multiplexed and combined signal data to a smart phone based on a connection and a disconnection of the single female snap receptor thereto. Furthermore, a spooled memory stores and relays the plurality of signal data for a multiplexed and a composite transmission from the wireless transmitter module.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the priority date of earlierfiled U.S. Provisional Utility Application Ser. No. 62/054,938 filedSep. 24, 2014 for Darin Slack, and U.S. Non-Provisional Utilityapplication Ser. No. 14/504,606, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,041,551 filed Oct.2, 2014 also for Darin Slack, and U.S. Non-Provisional Utilityapplication Ser. No. 14/722,496 filed May 27, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No.9,402,543, also for Darin Slack, each incorporated herein by referencein its entirety.

BACKGROUND AND FIELD OF INVENTION

In-patient health care for cardiac symptom diagnosis includes ECG andEKG analysis via electrode patches applied to a patient's skin near theheart. An Einthoven triangle is established by applying an electrodepatch near the hip, preferably over non-musculature and another twoelectrode patches are applied to the chest. Multiple electrode patcheshelp to establish where an ECG signal originates, which direction it istraveling and to establish a common ‘ground.’ Therefore it is common toapply 8, 12 and even 18 electrode patches to a patient who isnon-ambulatory and wired to the diagnostic equipment. The multipleelectrodes are commonly color coded in order to assist in establishingsignal direction and ground.

Conventionally, the electrodes are connected by dedicated wires straightto the diagnostic equipment but getting from the patient even to abedside piece of diagnostic equipment requires at least several feet ofwires. However, leads can act as antennae for noise and produceartifacts of the desired signals. Lead artifacts distort a biologicalsignal and must be filtered or ignored in the diagnostic process.Minimizing artifacts therefore becomes a priority in signal integrityand signal processing at the receiver. It is therefore desirable tominimize the lead wires to the multiple electrodes for cleaner signalsand more accurate diagnostics.

Out-patient services cannot connect the electrode lead wires directly tothe diagnostic equipment since it is not practical for a patient tocarry the diagnostic equipment around with them. Therefore, atransceiver worn on the patient's wrist or carried in a pocket receivesthe multiple leads from the multiple electrode patches and communicateswith the diagnostic equipment. However, this does not solve the leadartifact issues though it may shorten the lead wires from the electrodepatches to the receiver carried with the patient.

Standard snap leads are a convenient and quick way of hooking a patientup to a diagnostic piece of equipment. However, it is also common forthe electrode patches to come off the skin due to the leads pulling onthem in outpatient everyday use and in-patient movements. This loss ofcontact results in loss of telemetry and exposes the patient to downtimeand risks an unmonitored cardiac event in the interim time period(s).Also, when a patient takes a shower the lead wires are usually detachedfrom the electrode patches because the receiver is not waterproof. Thisalso exposes the patient to unattended telemetry downtime.

Cell phone computing power is providing many opportunities for analyzingtelemetry data. What required a server or specialized equipment in thepast may now be at least conceptualized on cell phone technology.However, medical grade telemetry and analysis is not yet availablethrough cell phones alone. There is therefore a long felt need for adevice and method to minimize lead wires from an electrode patch andallow a patient to take a shower and go about normal life as much aspossible that has gone unmet until the present Applicants' disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A number of discrete electrode telemetry devices comprise a singlefemale snap receptor configured in a leadless body of a single discreteelectrode sensor device. The single female snap receptor attaches to asingle male snap post of a single discrete standard circular disposableelectrode patch, wherein the sensor comprises a plurality of plug-ininterface ports on the leadless body thereof. A multiplexor circuit isengineered to multiplex and combine a plurality of signal data collectedfrom the interface ports as a piecewise output thereof. A wirelesstransmitter module is disposed in connection with the single female snapreceptor, the wireless transmitter configured to transmit the piecewisemultiplexed and combined signal data based on a connection and adisconnection of the single female snap receptor thereto. Furthermore, aspooled memory stores and relays to a smart phone the plurality ofsignal data for a multiplexed and a combined piecewise transmission fromthe wireless transmitter module.

A telemetry system comprises an Nth plurality of button-like wirelessand leadless discrete electrode sensor devices and an equal plurality ofstandard circular disposable electrode patches, wherein a single femalesnap receptor is configured in a leadless body of each of the discreteelectrode sensor devices, each female snap receptor configured to attachto a single male snap post of the plurality of standard circulardisposable electrode patches. Also, a multiplexor circuit is configuredto multiplex and combine a plurality of signal data collected from aplurality of interface ports on each leadless discrete electrodetelemetry device as a composite output thereof. Additionally, a wirelesstransmitter module is disposed in connection with each female snapreceptor, each respective wireless transmitter module configured totransmit a signal in reference to an electrical ground thereof to areceiver. Furthermore, a wireless receiver module is configured toreceive and to process an Nth plurality of transmitted signals at asmart phone from the Nth plurality of discrete electrode telemetrydevices into an Nth−1 number of signals greater than zero. A referencecluster is also included, the cluster comprising the plug-in interfaceports on each discrete electrode sensor device and a plurality ofreference electrodes connected therein, wherein a reference electrode ofthe reference cluster is shared by any number of sensors.

A disclosed method for telemetry comprises providing an Nth plurality ofwireless and leadless discrete electrode telemetry devices and an equalplurality of standard circular disposable electrode patches attachableto a patient, wherein a single female snap receptor is configured in aleadless body of each of the discrete electrode telemetry devices, eachfemale snap receptor configured to attach to a single male snap post ofthe plurality of standard circular disposable electrode patches. Themethod also comprises multiplexing and merging a plurality of signaldata collected from a plurality of interface ports on each leadlessdiscrete electrode telemetry device as an output thereof. The methodadditionally comprises transmitting a multiplexed and a merged signal inreference from the respective female snap receptor to a remote receivervia a wireless transmitter processor disposed in connection with eachfemale snap receptor. The method further comprises receiving andprocessing an Nth plurality of the transmitting signals at a smart phonefrom the Nth plurality of discrete electrode telemetry devices into anNth−1 number of signals greater than zero via a receiver processor. Themethod yet comprises spooling a memory configured to store and relay theplurality of signal data for a multiplexed and a merged piecewisetransmission from the wireless transmitter module based on a connectionand a disconnection of the single female snap receptor to the wirelesstransmitter module and the ground thereof.

Other aspects and advantages of embodiments of the disclosure willbecome apparent from the following detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrated by way ofexample of the principles of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an Nth leadless telemetry device inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of an Nth leadless telemetry deviceillustrating the female snap receptor at the center of the device inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a standard disposable medical gradeelectrode and male snap post in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a telemetry device, a standard disposablemedical grade electrode and a snapped combination pair in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective close-up view of the Nth leadless telemetrydevice illustrating status indicators and identifiers, etc in accordancewith an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a top open view of the telemetry device with a top removed toillustrate some telemetry components in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a pictorial view of the placement of several electrode patchesand telemetry devices snapped thereto transmitting to a single remotereceiver in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a pictorial view of a smart phone screen depicting processedtransmissions in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a telemetry system illustrating snaptransmission of multiple placed electrodes and snapped telemetry deviceson a patient in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a telemetry system illustrating anunsnapped telemetry deactivation and a removed electrode patch inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a method for telemetry including an Nthnumber of wireless and leadless telemetry devices and an equal number ofstandard disposable electrode patches attachable to a patient inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12A is a pictorial view of the placement of several electrodepatches and telemetry devices snapped thereto and an interface on eachdiscrete electrode telemetry device configured to thread the devices inseries to a single grounding telemetry device in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12B is a pictorial view of the placement of several electrodepatches and telemetry devices snapped thereto and a wired and wirelessinterface on each discrete electrode telemetry device configured tothread the devices in series to a single grounding telemetry device inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a pictorial view of the placement of several electrodepatches and telemetry sensor devices configured in wireless clusters tomultiple reference devices in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 14A is a graphical view of data gathered from an electrode on apatient and processed and transmitted in real time by a sensor inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14B is a graphical view of the combined data of FIG. 14A saved in abuffer memory in spooled time for transmission by the sensor inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15A is a graphical view of multiplexed electrode data gathered froma patient for processing and transmission in real time by respectivesensors in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15B is a graphical view of a combined serial transmission of thedata of FIG. 15A saved in a buffer memory in spooled time fortransmission by the sensor in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a method for multiplexing and merging aplurality of signal data collected from a plurality of interface portson each leadless discrete electrode telemetry device in accordance withan embodiment of the present disclosure.

Throughout the description, similar reference numbers may be used toidentify similar elements depicted in multiple embodiments. Althoughspecific embodiments of the invention have been described andillustrated, the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms orarrangements of parts so described and illustrated. The scope of theinvention is to be defined by the claims appended hereto and theirequivalents.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to exemplary embodiments illustrated in thedrawings and specific language will be used herein to describe the same.It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope ofthe disclosure is thereby intended. Alterations and furthermodifications of the inventive features illustrated herein andadditional applications of the principles of the inventions asillustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant artand having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered withinthe scope of the invention.

Throughout the present disclosure, the term ‘piecewise’ refers to atransmission of multiplexed and superimposed signal data (also called apiecewise function or a hybrid function) and a transmission which isdefined by multiple sub-data, each sub-data applying to a certain timeinterval of the complete transmission domain (a sub-domain) in analog ordigital formats. The term ‘merged,’ ‘composite,’ ‘combined,’ and‘superimposed’ refer to a number of signals that have been made into asingle signal. The component signals thereof may be analog or digitaland the piecewise transmission may therefore include a respective timeperiod for the analog and the digital pieces thereof. The term ‘sensor’refers to disclosed components that may include an electrode patch, anamplifier, a transmitter and any other components associated with thedisclosed telemetry device in transmitting, detecting, converting andrelaying signals from the human body to electric and electronic systemsand devices. Also, as used in the present disclosure, the term ‘single’refers to a solitary electrode patch and telemetry unit as opposed toprior art including multiple patches and or multiple electrodes ormultiple telemetry devices. Additionally, the term ‘multiplexer’ refersto a device that selects one of several analog or digital input signalsand forwards the selected input into a single line. A multiplexer of 2inputs has n select lines, which are used to select which input line tosend to the output. The term ‘spooled memory,’ refers to a first in lastout memory capable of real time compression and magnitude scaling forefficient transmission. The term ‘electrode patch’ as used in thepresent disclosure includes an electrical conductor used to make contactwith a nonmetallic part of a circuit where a patient is the start of acircuit in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Thepatch component is a standard disposable patch with sticky adhesiveapplied to an underside as is standard in the art of electrode patches.The telemetry device disclosed therefore is not an electrode nor anelectrode patch but a novel and unobvious device for the quick andconvenient gathering of telemetry information from an ambulatory patientvia wireless transmissions over radio waves or ultrasonic waves and anyother types of communicable waveforms. The term ‘electrical ground’refers to a voltage reference over which a signal level is taken ormeasured and that provides a return for current.

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an Nth leadless telemetry device inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. A telemetrydevice 5 comprising a female snap receptor 10 (not depicted) configuredin a body of the telemetry device 5 is disclosed. The female snapreceptor 10 is configured to attach to a male snap post 15 (notdepicted) of a standard disposable electrode patch 20 (not depicted). Awireless transmitter module 25 internal to the telemetry device 5 isdisposed immediately around and in direct connection with the femalesnap receptor 10, the wireless transmitter configured to transmit asignal in reference to an electrical ground thereof from the female snapreceptor 10 to a remote receiver 30. A programmable switch 35 alsointernal to the telemetry device 5 activates and deactivates atransmission of the wireless transmitter module 25 based on a respectivesnap connection and a disconnection between the female snap receptor 10of the telemetry device 5 and the male snap post 15 of the electrodepatch 20. The switch 35 may be implemented in hardware or in softwarewhere a non-transitory computer readable medium has computer useableprogram code executable to perform operations of a physical or anelectronic switch configured to control the transmission of the wirelesstransmitter module despite a snap connection between the female snapreceptor and the male snap post. This override function of theprogrammable switch is configured to override the activation switch 35and control the transmission of the wireless transmitter module 5regardless of the snap connection between the female snap receptor 10and the male snap post 15. This function gives flexibility to powersaving options for the telemetry device as a master, a slave and aninactive device.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a telemetry device illustrating the exposedbottom of the electrode at the center of the patch in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure. The telemetry device 5 is depictedas a disc-like shape to be compatible with a disc-like electrode patch20. The female snap receptor 10 may include pinching springs configuredto clasp the male snap post 15 and any other means common in the art ofsnap connectors. The male snap post may also be configured in a bulboushead to enable a pinching around the post thereof. The pinching springsand the female snap receptor 10 may comprise metal and conductivematerials for transferring the biological signal coming from the patientvia an electrode patch to the wireless transmitter module 25. The femalesnap receptor 10 is configured to completely enclose the male snap post15 so that the telemetry device 5 may sit flush onto the electrode patch20.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a standard disposable medical gradeelectrode and male snap post in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. The electrode patch 20 includes a male snap post 15and a nipple area 17 comprising a conductive area beneath and around themale snap post 15. A conductive gel may be included below the male snappost 15 for making contact with a patient's skin. The electrode patch 20is a standard disposable medical grade patch. The male snap post mayalso be configured with a bulbous head and a narrower post to enable thefemale snap receptor to clasp around the post and secure the bulboushead.

FIG. 4 is an exploded side view of a telemetry device, a standarddisposable medical grade electrode and a snapped combination pair inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Same or similarcharacteristics depicted in other figures may share the same referencenumbers depicted herein. The body of the telemetry device 5 isconfigured in a saucer-like chamfered perimeter shape having a radiussimilar to a radius of a US minted quarter and a total weight less thana weight of a US minted quarter. This low profile chamfered shape of thetelemetry device 5 allows a patient to ‘wear’ it without snaggingundergarments and go about their normal daily activities unencumbered bythe telemetry process in progress. The disclosed telemetry device mayeven resemble a large button.

The wireless transmitter module 25 may be an ultrasound or a radiofrequency transmitter such as Bluetooth® configured to transmit a signalin reference to an electrical ground thereof via ultrasound or radiowaves from the female snap receptor 10 to a remote receiver 30configured to receive an ultrasound or a radio transmission. Benefits ofan ultrasound personal area network include lower cost and lowerinterference from other ultrasound sources. However, ultrasound personalarea networks have reflection and obstacles issues not present in radiofrequency transmissions. Therefore, a hybrid ultrasound and radiofrequency transmission may be included in an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective close-up view of an Nth leadless telemetrydevice illustrating status indicators and identifiers, etc. inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Same or similarcharacteristics depicted in other figures may share the same referencenumbers depicted herein. The vent 21 may be used for input output to thetelemetry device such as a speaker vent or a sonic receiver. The LEDwindows 22 may identify the telemetry device from the Nth number used inany system by color coding the device based on where it is placed on apatient. Push buttons 23 and 24 may be used to activate and deactivatethe telemetry device or to perform other functions according to modeltype and lot release date. Status indicator and identification windows,etc. are only representative of an embodiment and are not intended torestrict other features and characteristics are disclosed herein. Aninterface 95 on each discrete electrode telemetry device may beconfigured to thread the plurality of devices in series to a singlegrounding device based on a connection and a disconnection of the singlefemale snap receptor to the wireless transmitter module and theelectrical ground thereof.

An Nth number multicolor light emitting diode (LED) 50 may also beimplemented as various color LEDs in an embodiment of the telemetrydevice wherein an Nth color LED corresponds to a predeterminable Nthtelemetry device number for signal identification purposes. The number Nmay range from 1 to 8, to 12, to 18 and any practical number oftelemetry devices to be applied to a patient. The Nth telemetry devicenumber is configured to be transmitted with the transmitted signal sothe LED color may ‘color code’ a specific electrode patch placement asdone in the prior art with colored leads.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the wireless transmitter module 25is configured to act as one of a master and a slave in one network andto alternatively act as a slave in another network in a multiple networkmaster-slave protocol. This master-slave multiple network embodimentenables communication by more than eight telemetry devices and at leastone receiver in a Bluetooth® implementation where a single network islimited to one master and seven slaves.

In a Bluetooth® piconet, one master can communicate up to 7 activeslaves, there can be some other up to 248 devices which are in sleepmode (may participate to communication actively when another activedevice goes into sleep mode). In Bluetooth® scatternets (interconnectedpiconets) number of devices are not limited. Some slaves used as abridge by participating two or more piconets.

A piconet is the type of connection that is formed between two or moreBluetooth-enabled devices such as modern cell phones or PDAs. Bluetooth®enabled devices are “peer units” in that they are able to act as eithermaster or slave. However, when a piconet is formed between two or moredevices, one device takes the role of ‘master’, and all other devicesassume a ‘slave’ role for synchronization reasons. Piconets have a 3-bitaddress space, which limits the maximum size of a piconet to 8 devices(2³=8), i.e. 1 master and 7 slaves.

A scatternet is a number of interconnected piconets that supportscommunication between more than 8 devices. Scatternets can be formedwhen a member of one piconet (either the master or one of the slaves)elects to participate as a slave in a second, separate piconet. Thedevice participating in both piconets can relay data between members ofboth ad hoc networks. However, the basic Bluetooth® protocol does notsupport this relaying—the host software of each device would need tomanage it. Using this approach, it is possible to join together numerouspiconets into a large scatternet, and to expand the physical size of thenetwork beyond Bluetooth's limited range.

FIG. 6 is a top open view of the telemetry device with a top removed toillustrate some telemetry components in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present disclosure. Same or similar characteristics depicted inother figures may share the same reference numbers depicted herein. Thetelemetry device 5 comprises a female snap receptor 10, a detachable lidor top 40, a battery 45, multiple LED 50 to indicate battery energy orto indicate the Nth number of the respective telemetry device 5. Thetelemetry device also includes the wireless transmitter module 25immediate and surrounding the female snap receptor 10, the programmableswitch 35 and support electronics 55 and other supporting electroniccomponents not depicted. A battery indicator is configured to flag a lowbattery energy level also in an embodiment of the present disclosure.The battery indicator may be one of a light emitting diode, an audiblealarm and a vibration pulse device. The battery indicator enablesbattery replacement before the battery energy level drops below anenergy level required for telemetry transmission. The indicators areperceptible to the patient and to medical staff and battery replacementmay be performed by the patient or attending medical staff. An interface90 and 95 on some discrete electrode telemetry devices may be configuredto thread the plurality of devices in series to a single groundingdevice based on a connection and a disconnection of the single femalesnap receptor to the wireless transmitter module and the electricalground thereof. One of the interface ports 90 and 95 may be a wireableconnector port for a wired ground and another of the interface ports 90and 95 may be a wireless connector port for a wireless ground accordingto predetermined technical, system and financial requirements. Thememory 97 may include a short term buffer memory and a long term memory.The memory 97 is in communication with the transmitter 25 and transmitsspooled medical grade data from the buffer 97 to the receiver 25. Thebuffer memory is engineered to hold telemetry data gathered by theelectrode and the telemetry sensor when a receiver is out of range. Ahandshaking protocol between the transmitter and the receiver alerts thetransmitter that it is going out of range and not receiving data.Alternatively, the transmitter has a timer which is not reset by asignal from the receiver which alerts the transmitter that the receivermay be out of range or shut off or malfunctioning, etc.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the wireless receiver modulecomprises a temporal multiplexor configured to assign a relativepriority to a respective signal based on its initial arrival at thetemporal multiplexor with respect to the arrival of other signals of theplurality of signals at the temporal multiplexor. The wireless receivermodule is synchronized with the wireless transmitter module via a firstto transmit protocol wherein the first wireless transmitter module totransmit is assigned a first synchronization and a second wirelesstransmitter module to transmit is assigned a second synchronization andso forth until a timeout period for a last wireless transmitter moduleto transmit has occurred.

FIG. 7 is a pictorial view of the placement of several electrode patchesand telemetry devices snapped thereto transmitting to a single remotereceiver in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.Five electrode patches 20 and five telemetry devices 5 are snapped intopairs and placed on a patient as illustrated. A single receiver type 60receives telemetry from the wireless transmitter module 25 of eachtelemetry device 5. The thigh placement of an electrode patch andtelemetry device pair may be used as a ground or zero reference forprocessing the other Nth−1 signals which in this case is four.

In another embodiment of the disclosure, the wireless transmitter modulecomprises an encoder configured to encode a unique identifier into thesignal, including but not limited to a direct current (DC) offset and asignal preamble. The encoded unique identifier is configured to betransmitted with the transmitted signal. The embodiment also includes awireless receiver module comprises a decoder configured to decode eachof the plurality of signals into separate respective signals forprocessing at the wireless receiver module. Also, an operationalamplifier sensor is configured to sense a biological signal and amplifya signal difference into a voltage difference for transmission by thewireless transmitter.

FIG. 8 is a pictorial view of a smart phone screen depicting processedtransmissions in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The smart cell phone 65 is protected by a casing 70 which insome embodiments may receive telemetry signals and preprocess thembefore forwarding them to the cell phone for further processing. Thewaveform 75 is representative of a waveform received and processed atthe cell phone but is not intended to be limiting to other waveformsreceivable at the cell phone or any other receiver device. Screen areas80 and 85 may be used to indicate information about the patient andinformation about the telemetry in progress such as the Nth number ofsignals in the telemetry and wireless and leadless electrode placementon the patient etc. The smart cell phone 65 may process radiofrequencies and/or ultrasonic frequency transmissions according toapplications programs and appended input and output devices. The casing70 may interface with the smart phone 65 via electromagnetic waves orelectromechanical connections. The applications programs may beconfigured to operate on either the smart phone 65 or the casing 70 oron both together and include a non-transitory computer readable mediumhaving computer useable program code executable to perform operations oftelemetry processing.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a telemetry system illustrating multiplesnap transmission of multiple placed electrode and snapped telemetrydevices on a patient in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. Same reference numbers may indicate same or similar featuresof multiple telemetry devices. A telemetry system comprising an Nthnumber of telemetry devices 5 and an equal number of standard disposableelectrode patches (not depicted). The system includes a female snapreceptor 10 configured in a body of each of the telemetry devices 5.Each female snap receptor 10 is configured to attach to a single malesnap post of an electrode patch. The system also includes a wirelesstransmitter module 25 disposed immediately around and in directconnection with each female snap receptor 10. Each respective wirelesstransmitter module 25 is configured to transmit a signal in reference toan electrical ground thereof from the respective female snap receptor 10to a receiver module. The system further includes a wireless receivermodule configured to receive and to process an Nth number of transmittedsignals from the Nth number of telemetry devices into an Nth−1 number ofsignals where the number of signals is greater than zero. There areNth−1 number of signals because at least one of the Nth telemetrydevices is configured as a ground or zero volt reference for the rest ofthe Nth number of telemetry devices. The receiver module type may be awireless phone case 61, a wireless phone 62, a computer 63 or anystand-alone device 64 able to process the five transmissions. Thewireless phone case 61 is in electronic communication with the wirelessphone 62. An Nth telemetry device 305 includes a female snap receptor310 in a leadless body and a wireless transmitter module 325.

The telemetry system illustrated in FIG. 9 includes a ‘battery on’indicator as a component of both telemetry devices 5, electrode patches20 placed on a patient, two smart phones, a computer and a stand-alonereceiver. Each telemetry device 5 is snapped onto an electrode patch 20and the respective programmable switch 35 has activated a wirelesstransmission module to start a transmission, indicated ‘Telemetry SnapTransmission.’ The telemetry devices 5 are therefore in communicationwith a smart phone, the computer or the stand-alone device via radiowaves and/or ultrasonic waves. The system therefore is in telemetrygathering mode for analyzing a patient's ECG or EKG or EEG activity. Thefirst telemetry device to be snapped to an electrode patch and adheredto a patient may be designated the blue device and the second telemetrydevice to be snapped to an electrode patch and adhered to a patient maybe designated the green device or the common ground or zero referencefor the other telemetry device depending on where it is placed on thepatient.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a telemetry system illustrating anunsnapped telemetry deactivation and a removed electrode patch inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Theprogrammable switch 35 deactivates the wireless transmission module whenthe telemetry device 5 is unsnapped or removed from the electrode patch.This not only saves power but indicates to a receiver 60 that thetelemetry device 5 has been removed from the patient and therefore maysound an alarm to attending medical staff or prevent erroneoustelemetry. This is also an opportunity for synchronizing a cell phone toa computer or other stand-alone device.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a method for telemetry including an Nthnumber of wireless and leadless telemetry devices and an equal number ofstandard disposable electrode patches attachable to a patient inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. A method fortelemetry includes 210 providing an Nth number of wireless and leadlesstelemetry devices and an equal number of standard disposable electrodepatches attachable to a patient is further disclosed. The method alsoincludes 220 providing a female snap receptor configured in a body ofeach of the telemetry devices, each female snap receptor configured toattach to a single male snap post of the plurality of electrode patches.The method additionally includes 230 transmitting a signal from therespective female snap receptor to a remote receiver via a wirelesstransmitter processor disposed immediately around and in directconnection with each female snap receptor. The method further includes240 receiving and processing an Nth number of the transmitting signalsfrom the Nth number of telemetry devices into an Nth−1 number of signalsgreater than zero via a receiver processor. The method yet includescreating an Nth−1 number of composite signals including an Nth number oftransmitting signals and a common ground reference signal. The methodyet includes 250 threading the plurality of telemetry devices in seriesto a single grounding telemetry device via an interface on eachtelemetry device based on a connection and a disconnection of the singlefemale snap receptor to the wireless transmitter module and the groundthereof.

An embodiment of the method of telemetry further comprises removing thewireless and leadless telemetry devices and leaving the electrodepatches for one of patient hygiene, patient care and maintenance of thewireless and leadless telemetry devices including battery replacement.The embodiment may also comprise attaching the electrode patches onto apatient and snapping the wireless and leadless telemetry devices ontothe electrode patches on the patient. The embodiment may furthercomprise snapping the wireless and leadless telemetry devices onto theelectrode patches and creating a snapped pair for attaching onto apatient in a configuration including up to 18 electrode patches and anequal number of wireless and leadless telemetry devices and at least onewireless receiver processor

A method of telemetry is disclosed in an embodiment of the disclosurecomprising applying a specific color of an Nth plurality of variouscolor light emitting diode (LED) telemetry devices to predeterminedareas of a patient's body via the equal number of electrode patches,wherein an Nth color LED corresponds to a predetermined Nth area of apatient's body.

FIG. 12A is a pictorial view of the placement of several electrodepatches and telemetry devices snapped thereto and an interface on eachdiscrete electrode telemetry device configured to thread the devices inseries to a single grounding telemetry device in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure. There are five electrodes depictedin this pictorial but more than five may also be employed and placedaccording to the examination and telemetry information desired from thepatient. The cranial electrode, the right chest electrode, the leftchest electrode, the left rib electrode and the thigh electrode are alldepicted in connection by a wired connector and interface configured tothread the devices in series to a single grounding telemetry device. Thegrounding telemetry device is conventionally located at the thigh butmay also be located at any of the five electrode placements according toelectrical ground information desired. The five telemetry devices andrespective electrodes each communicate wirelessly with the remotereceiver and receive an electrical ground from one of the fiveelectrodes thus designated and determined by a snap connection torespective wireless transmitter module.

FIG. 12B is a pictorial view of the placement of several electrodepatches and telemetry devices snapped thereto and a wired and wirelessinterface on each discrete electrode telemetry device configured tothread the devices in series to a single grounding telemetry device inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. There are fiveelectrodes depicted in this pictorial but more than five may also beemployed and placed according to the examination and telemetryinformation desired. The right chest electrode, the left chestelectrode, the left rib electrode and the thigh electrode are alldepicted in connection by a wired connector configured to thread thedevices in series to a single grounding telemetry device. The groundingtelemetry device is conventionally located at the thigh but may also belocated at any of the five electrode placements according to thetelemetry information desired. The cranial electrode is groundedwirelessly to the grounding electrode and therefore does not utilize awired connector port interface but may utilize a wireless port to thegrounding electrode. The grounding electrode may be any one of thediscrete electrode telemetry devices. The thigh electrode may begrounding or the right or left chest electrode or the left rib electrodeor any other electrode and does not need to be terminally connected inseries but may be any electrode in the series chain, wired or wireless.

An embodiment of the disclosure may comprise the interface on eachdiscrete electrode telemetry device configured to thread the pluralityof devices in series to a single transmitting device based on aconnection and a disconnection of the single female snap receptor to therespective wireless transmitter module and the respective signal toground thereof. Therefore a signal may be transmitted in series througha physical wire or may be transmitted wirelessly in parallel with othersignals from respective discrete electrode telemetry devices to theremote receiver.

FIG. 13 is a pictorial view of the placement of several electrodepatches and telemetry sensor devices configured in wireless clusters tomultiple reference devices in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. The two cluster configuration includes nineelectrodes 1 through 9 and includes 3 wireless telemetry sensors as snapattached to electrodes 1, 6 and 8. The first cluster consists ofelectrodes 1 and 2 and the sensor snapped onto electrode 1. The firstsensor is connected to reference electrode 2 through a plug-in port onthe first sensor. The second cluster consists of electrodes 3 through 6and the sensor snapped onto electrode 6. The second sensor is connectedto reference electrodes 7 and 9. Note that signals from the referenceelectrodes are merged at the wireless telemetry sensor device with thesignal from the electrode to which the sensor is snap attached. Thethird cluster consists of electrodes 7, 8 and 9 and the sensor snappedonto electrode 8. Note that the second cluster and the third clustershare the reference signals of electrodes 7 and 9 which are thereforemultiple use electrodes or plural referenced electrodes but otherconfigurations are also including in exemplary embodiments. Forinstance, the second cluster may be connected to only electrodes 3, 4,and 5 and may even include connection to reference electrode 2. Thewireless telemetry sensors of the first, second and third clusterstransmit data to the smart cell phone 65 for data processing and furtherprocessing and memory archival in the receiver 60 which may also be acomputer server.

The discrete and wireless telemetry sensor comprises a plurality ofplug-in interface ports on the leadless body thereof. A multiplexor andcircuit is engineered to multiplex and combine or merge a plurality ofsignal data collected from the interface ports as a piecewise outputthereof. A wireless transmitter module is disposed immediately aroundand in direct connection with the single female snap receptor, thewireless transmitter configured to transmit the piecewise multiplexedand combined signal data based on a connection and a disconnection ofthe single female snap receptor thereto. Furthermore, a spooled memorystores and relays the plurality of signal data for a multiplexed and acombined piecewise transmission from the wireless transmitter module.

FIG. 14A is a graphical view of data gathered from an electrode on apatient and processed and transmitted in real time by a sensor inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Waveform 1 iscomprised of data gathered from t1 or the start of transmission of thesensor triggered by the snap action onto an electrode attached to apatient. The waveform is depicted in broken lines to indicate that datatransmission may be sampled digital or continuous analog. An analog todigital converter may be included in the support circuitry 55 (depictedin FIG. 6). The broken lines also indicate that data is transmitted inreal time from the electrode by the sensor and therefore a piecewisetransmission is made as it is sensed by the sensor. Waveform 2 comprisesdata gathered at t2, waveform 3 comprises data gathered from t3 andwaveform 4 from data gathered starting at t4.

FIG. 14B is a graphical view of the combined data of FIG. 14A saved in abuffer memory in spooled time for transmission by the sensor inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Spooled timemay be directly proportional to real time (abscissa) without affectingthe waveform magnitude (ordinate) or it may be compressed in time forlonger data collection periods. Real time may be compressed on anabscissa component and a sensed wave magnitude may be scaled on anordinate component of the spooled memory for a transmission to thereceiver. Waveforms one through 4 are combined or merged and saved inthe buffer memory as they are transmitted for a spooled transmission inthe event that the receiver is out of range during the real timetransmission or the receiver does not otherwise receive the real timedata from the sensor. Four waveforms are indicated but waveforms may becollected, combined and stored in the buffer memory for anypredetermined amount of time depending on the size and technology of thebuffer memory.

FIG. 15A is a graphical view of multiplexed electrode data gathered froma patient for processing and transmission in real time by respectivesensors in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Thewaveform e1 is generated by electrode 1 and its sensor, waveform e2 isgenerated by electrode 2 and its sensor, waveform e3 is generated byelectrode 3 and its sensor and any number of electrodes and respectivesensors may be used to monitor a patient. Waveform e3 may be a groundingelectrode and sensor and shows some ground bounce in relation to thewaveforms e1 and e2. Waveform e2 is delayed from waveform e1 andwaveform e3 is delayed from waveform e2 as shown. The waveforms are‘muxed’ or multiplexed for parallel, merged or separate transmission ofthe same, or different transmission channels to the receiver. Eachidentified sensor may include a multiplexor circuit in the supportcircuitry (reference number 55 in some figures) to channel multiplesensor data to the receiver.

FIG. 15B is a graphical view of a combined serial transmission of thedata of FIG. 15A saved in a buffer memory in spooled time fortransmission by the sensor in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. Here the waveforms are superimposed for a singletransmission line or channel to the receiver. Similar to the singleelectrode and sensor transmission of FIGS. 14A and 14B, waveforms onethrough 4 are saved in the buffer memory as they are transmitted for aspooled transmission in the event that the receiver is out of rangeduring the real time transmission or the receiver does not otherwisereceive the real time data from the sensor. Four waveforms are indicatedbut waveforms may be collected and stored in the buffer memory for anypredetermined amount of time depending on the size and technology of thebuffer memory.

The multiplexor circuit may thus select any of the electrode signals e1,e2 and e3 for merging into an output signal to transmit to the smartphone receiver (65, not depicted in FIG. 15B). The electrode signals maybe mathematically merged into a single signal or the electrode signalsmay be electronically merged through analog and digital circuittechniques. The topmost e1 and e2 waveforms are shown superimposed formerging and the middle e1 and e3 waveforms and the bottom e1, e2 and e3waveforms are also shown superimposed for merging by the sensor deviceand the circuits therein. The bottom waveform includes a piecewisedepiction of the signal transmission from electrode e1 preceding thesignal transmission of e1, e2 and e3. The multiplexor circuit maytherefore be a wired-or of electrode signals on plug-in ports of thesensor device. The multiplexor may therefore not require any selectlines but effectively multiplex plug-in ports according to activesignals at the plug-in ports and unused plug-in ports by virtue of userapplication.

The multiplexor circuit may include a user selecting the plug-in portsto connect to reference electrodes. The multiplexor circuit may alsoinclude transistors configured to select one or more of the ports fromactive and used ports to be merged and or transmitted to the smart phonereceiver.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, either or both the cell phone andthe sensor will sound an alarm when out of Bluetooth transmission range(about 15 to 20 feet) to the other. Because the sensor has plug-ininterfaces for additional wires, additional snap post connectors toadditional standard electrodes may be used for grounding and signaldirection. Optimally, three directional signal wires establish thedirection from which a signal or signals may be coming.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a method for multiplexing and merging aplurality of signal data collected from a plurality of interface portson each leadless discrete electrode telemetry device in accordance withan embodiment of the present disclosure. A disclosed method fortelemetry comprises 310 providing an Nth plurality of wireless andleadless discrete electrode telemetry devices and an equal plurality ofstandard circular disposable electrode patches attachable to a patient,wherein a single female snap receptor is configured in a leadless bodyof each of the discrete electrode telemetry devices, each female snapreceptor configured to attach to a single male snap post of theplurality of standard circular disposable electrode patches. The methodalso comprises 320 multiplexing and merging a plurality of signal datacollected from a plurality of interface ports on each leadless discreteelectrode telemetry device as an output thereof. The method additionallycomprises 330 transmitting a multiplexed and a merged signal inreference from the respective female snap receptor to a remote receivervia a wireless transmitter processor disposed in connection with eachfemale snap receptor. The method further comprises 340 receiving andprocessing an Nth plurality of the transmitting signals at a smart phonefrom the Nth plurality of discrete electrode telemetry devices into anNth−1 number of signals greater than zero via a receiver processor. Themethod yet comprises 350 spooling a memory configured to store and relaythe plurality of signal data for a multiplexed and a merged piecewisetransmission from the wireless transmitter module based on a connectionand a disconnection of the single female snap receptor to the wirelesstransmitter module and the ground thereof.

Although the operations of the method(s) herein are shown and describedin a particular order, the order of the operations of each method may bealtered so that certain operations may be performed in an inverse orderor so that certain operations may be performed, at least in part,concurrently with other operations. In another embodiment, instructionsor sub-operations of distinct operations may be implemented in anintermittent and/or alternating manner.

While the forgoing examples are illustrative of the principles of thepresent disclosure in one or more particular applications, it will beapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerousmodifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be madewithout the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing fromthe principles and concepts of the invention. Accordingly, it is notintended that the disclosure be limited, except as by the specificationand claims set forth herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A plurality of discrete electrode telemetrydevices comprising: a) a single female snap receptor configured in aleadless body of a single discrete electrode sensor device, the singlefemale snap receptor configured to attach to a single male snap post ofa single discrete standard circular disposable electrode patch, whereinthe sensor comprises a plurality of plug-in interface ports on theleadless body thereof; b) a wireless transmitter module disposed indirect connection with the single female snap receptor, the wirelesstransmitter configured to transmit a plurality of signal data based on aconnection and a disconnection of the single female snap receptorthereto; c) a multiplexor circuit configured to multiplex and combine aplurality of reference signal data collected from the interface portsand a plurality of reference electrodes connected thereto as an outputof the wireless transmitter module; and d) a spooled memory configuredto store and relay the plurality of signal data to a smart phone for amultiplexed and a combined transmission from the wireless transmittermodule.
 2. The plurality of discrete electrode telemetry devices ofclaim 1, wherein the plug-in interface ports on each discrete electrodetelemetry device comprise a reference cluster in communication with thewireless transmitter and wherein a reference electrode of the referencecluster is shared by any number of sensors.
 3. The plurality of discreteelectrode telemetry devices of claim 1, further comprising aprogrammable switch configured to activate and deactivate a transmissionof the wireless transmitter module based on a respective snap connectionand a disconnection between the single female snap receptor and thesingle male snap post.
 4. The plurality of discrete electrode telemetrydevices of claim 1, further comprising a programmable switch including anon-transitory computer readable medium having computer useable programcode executable to perform operations of an electronic switch configuredto control the transmission of the wireless transmitter module despite asnap connection and a disconnection between the single female snapreceptor and the single male snap post.
 5. The plurality of discreteelectrode telemetry devices of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmittermodule is one of an ultrasound and a radio transmitter and is configuredto transmit a signal in reference to an electrical ground thereof via asignal from the single female snap receptor to a remote receiverconfigured to receive the transmission.
 6. The plurality of discreteelectrode telemetry devices of claim 1, further comprising a countdownhandshake alarm configured to alert a user of the discrete telemetrydevice that one or both of the transmitter and the receiver are out of acommunications range.
 7. The plurality of discrete electrode telemetrydevices of claim 1, further comprising an Nth multicolor light emittingdiode (LED) wherein an Nth color LED corresponds to a predeterminableNth telemetry device number, the Nth telemetry device number configuredto be transmitted with the transmitted signal.
 8. The plurality ofdiscrete electrode telemetry devices of claim 1, wherein the wirelesstransmitter module is configured to act as one of a master and a slavein one network and to alternatively act as a slave in another network ina multiple network master-slave protocol configured to enablecommunication by at least eight telemetry devices and at least onereceiver.
 9. The plurality of discrete electrode telemetry devices ofclaim 1, wherein the body of the single telemetry device is configuredin a saucer-like chamfered perimeter shape having a radius similar to aradius of a US minted quarter and a total weight less than a weight of aUS minted quarter.
 10. A telemetry system comprising a plurality ofdiscrete electrode telemetry devices, comprising: a) an Nth plurality ofbutton-like wireless and leadless discrete electrode sensor devices andan equal plurality of standard circular disposable electrode patches,wherein a single female snap receptor is configured in a leadless bodyof each of the discrete electrode sensor devices, each female snapreceptor configured to attach to a single male snap post of theplurality of standard circular disposable electrode patches; b) amultiplexor circuit configured to multiplex and combine a plurality ofsignal data collected from a plurality of interface ports on eachleadless discrete electrode sensor device as a composite output thereof;and c) a wireless transmitter module disposed in connection with eachfemale snap receptor, each respective wireless transmitter moduleconfigured to transmit a signal in reference to an electrical groundthereof to a receiver; d) a wireless receiver module configured toreceive and to process an Nth plurality of transmitted signals at asmart phone from the Nth plurality of discrete electrode telemetrydevices into an Nth−1 number of signals greater than zero; and e) areference cluster comprising the plug-in interface ports on eachdiscrete electrode sensor device and a plurality of reference electrodesconnected therein, wherein a reference electrode of the referencecluster is shared by any number of sensors.
 11. The telemetry system ofclaim 10, wherein at least one of the Nth plurality of discreteelectrode telemetry devices is configured as a ground reference devicefor the rest of the Nth plurality of telemetry devices.
 12. Thetelemetry system of claim 10, further comprising an Nth plurality ofvarious color light emitting diodes (LED) wherein an Nth color LEDcorresponds to a Nth telemetry device number, the Nth telemetry devicenumber configured to be transmitted with the transmitted signal.
 13. Thetelemetry system of claim 10, wherein the wireless transmitter module isconfigured to act as one of a master and a slave in one network and toalternatively act as a slave in another network in a multiple networkmaster-slave protocol to enable communication by more than 8 telemetrydevices and at least one remote receiver.
 14. The telemetry system ofclaim 10, wherein the wireless receiver module is synchronized with thewireless transmitter module via a temporal multiplexor wherein the firstwireless transmitter module to transmit is assigned a firstsynchronization and a second wireless transmitter module to transmit isassigned a second synchronization and so forth until a timeout periodfor a last wireless transmitter module to transmit has occurred.
 15. Thetelemetry system of claim 10, wherein the wireless receiver moduleresides in a smart cell phone configured for data processing andtransmission of the processed data to another receiver comprising apersonal computer and a computer server.
 16. A method for telemetry, themethod comprising: a) providing an Nth plurality of wireless andleadless discrete electrode telemetry devices and an equal plurality ofstandard circular disposable electrode patches attachable to a patient,wherein a single female snap receptor is configured in a leadless bodyof each of the discrete electrode telemetry devices, each female snapreceptor configured to attach to a single male snap post of theplurality of standard circular disposable electrode patches; b)multiplexing and merging a plurality of signal data collected from aplurality of interface ports on each leadless discrete electrodetelemetry device as an output thereof; c) transmitting the multiplexedand merged output signal in reference from the respective female snapreceptor to a remote receiver via a wireless transmitter processordisposed in connection with each female snap receptor; d) receiving andprocessing an Nth plurality of the transmitting signals from the Nthplurality of discrete electrode telemetry devices into an Nth−1 numberof signals greater than zero via a receiver processor at a smart phone;and e) spooling a memory configured to store and relay the plurality ofsignal data for a multiplexed and a merged piecewise transmission fromthe wireless transmitter module based on a connection and adisconnection of the single female snap receptor to the wirelesstransmitter module and the ground thereof.
 17. The method of telemetryof claim 16, further comprising creating an Nth−1 number of compositesignals including an Nth transmitting signal and a common groundreference signal.
 18. The method of telemetry of claim 16, furthercomprising compressing a real time abscissa component and scaling amagnitude ordinate component of the spooled memory for a transmission tothe receiver.
 19. The method of telemetry of claim 16, wherein theplurality of discrete electrode devices comprises at least 3 devices andwherein an interface on each discrete electrode telemetry devicecomprises one of a wireless and a wired ground port in communicationwith the wireless transmitter.
 20. The method of telemetry of claim 16,further comprising snapping the wireless and leadless telemetry devicesonto the electrode patches and creating a snapped pair for attachingonto a patient in a configuration including up to 18 electrode patchesand an equal number of wireless and leadless telemetry devices and atleast one wireless receiver processor.